As I start the second day of a new assignment, I am overwhelmed by details. I have 30+ presentations I needs to review and multiple spreadsheets to understand. The details I need to grasp are endless. Each is important in its own way, yet I know there is a balance within them that I will discover in time.
My challenge is to absorb the story and find where in the story I fit. I know I need to think differently. While I understand the problem, the canvas, painting, and materials are new. The immediate hurdle is grasping the story line. I am confident I can add value. The question is one of when, where, and how. While the picture is emerging, details will be critical.
Life is always found in the details yet the picture is the big story. There are reminders everywhere that nature and Divinity have found the balance that often hides. Insects working with plants to sustain life; snapshots along the way are images of beauty that leave us with a sense of wonder. Writers share their observations of God in action. David notes that God “tracks down killers yet keeps his eye on us, registers every whimper and moan.” (Psalm 9.12) Details and big stories make up the fabric of your life and mine.
Even as I think about the overwhelming details, I realize that it will get worse before it begins to ease. I am excited about the challenge. There are a few reminders that I would do well to hold onto.
Letting one’s mind and heart absorb the details is always better than trying to force the process. We can do more than what we think we can. The reminder is that this is often different than what we imagine.
Living in the moment opens the opportunity to get the most out of it. Worry distracts one from the present, limiting out ability to live fully. Being stuck in the past also takes us away from the place where we can act.
In being present, we find our living opportunity.
